Sheet feed device



K. BARTHEL Sept. 14, 1965 SHEET FEED DEVICE 2. Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2-, 1963 In ventor Karl Barthel,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 K. BARTHEL SHEET FEED DEVICE Sept. 14, 1965 Filed April 2-,

Inventor Karl Barthel United States Patent 3,206,194 SHEET FEED DEVICE Karl Barthel, Heidelberg, Germany, assignor to Schnellpressent'abrik Aktiengesellschaft Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed Apr. 2, 1963, Ser. No. 270,019 Claims priority, application Germany, Apr. 30, 1962, Sch 31,3ss 6 Claims. (Cl. 271-50) This invention relates generally to sheet feed devices and more particularly to a new and novel sheet feed device usable for delivering sheet stock to printing presses, paper processing machines and the like.

Heretofore, sheet feeding devices which grip the individual sheeets from the leading or trailing edge for delivery are generally limited as to the number of sheets that they can deliver within a given period of time. The individual sheeets gripped successively by the leading edge must make room for the next successive sheet. Moreover, in known sheet feed devices, it is generally very hard for the operator to detect any mishandling of the sheets by the feed device so that there is increased likelihood of misoperation of the device during operation, for example due to ballups.

In feed devices where the sheets are picked up by the trailing edge portion and advanced forwardly, the free leading edge portion is free to flap freely particularly if light or thin stock is being handled by the feed device. The freedom of the leading edge to move makes it hard for delivery systems, such as grippers, to take hold of the leading edge portion to advance the sheet. Moreover, it is particularly necessary to take steps to preclude misoperat-ion of the device particularly at high Working speeds or feed rates. Furthermore, positive alignment means must be provided separate from the feed mechanism in order to insure that the press or the like receives the sheets in an aligned condition. The feed device according to the invention aligns the sheets during the feeding thereof, i.e. during the advancement there- A of and the sheet leading edges are positively held in a fixed and aligned position so that a gripper system delivering the sheets functions rapidly, positively and receives the sheets in an aligned condition.

In known sheet handling devices where sheets overlie or overlap each other during the feeding thereof there is generally required alignment of the sheets that is done by a separate device before the sheet delivery means picks up the individual sheets at the feed lays or guides in order that the feed mechanism, for example conveyor belts or timed rollers, can operate at high working speeds.

A principal feature of the invention is the provision of pre-a'iignment means to pre-align the sheets individually so that grippers of the delivery means that deliver the sheets from the pro-aligned position to the printing press or paper processing machine pick up the sheets successively while they are positively held in a pre-aligned position.

The sheet device according to the invention is provided with delivery means to deliver the sheets from the feed stock pile individually and successively to the pro-alignment means which comprises rotary driven members which are continuously driven in operation and have prealignment stops angularly spaced peripherally thereon for positioning the sheet in pro-aligned positions successively. The sheets are releasably held in the pre-aligned position or condition under the effect of a vacuum drag applied to the rotary devices of the pre-alignment means and this vacuum is broken at the time that the grippers of the sheet delivery means grip the leading edge of the individual sheets and transport them over a feed table or board to the apparatus that is to use them.

3,206,194 Patented Sept. 14, 1965 In order to operate the feed device at high speeds, for example when handling thin stock, the apparatus of the invention is provided with a plurality of coaxially disposed fingers that are actuated reciprocally backward and forwards in timed relationship with the advancement of the sheets to engage the underside of the individual sheets after they are in a pro-aligned position and lift the trailing edge thereof so that the next oncoming sheet is delivered to the pre-alignment means without any hinderance by the prior sheet. Moreover these fingers are configured to hold the individual sheets in a supported condition substantially assisting the gripper system in positively receiving the sheets in an aligned condition.

A principal object of the present invention is to pro vide a high-speed sheet feed device which i highly reliable at high working speeds for all kinds of paper stock including thin stock and cardboard.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method of sheet feeding which consists of lifting the uppermost successive sheets of a feed pile and separating the uppermost sheet from the pile by an air blast, advancing the individual sheets forwardly successively and pro-aligning them, holding the leading edge of the sheeets by application of negative pressure and then transferring the sheets in an accurate aligned position or condition to the apparatus, and during the transfer thereof lifting at least the trailing edge of the individual successive sheeets to permit advancement forwardly of the next successive sheeet at a high working or operating speed.

Other features and advantages of the sheet feed device in accordance with the present invention will be better understood as described in the following specification and appended claims, in conjunction with the follow ing drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view partly in section of a sheet feed device, according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus illustrating the suckers only of a head illustrate-d diagrammatically in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation view, partly in section, and on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the sheet device in FIG. 3;

FIG. 4 is a side view partly in section illustrating a different position of the device in FIG. 3;

According to the drawing the sheet feed apparatus comprises means, not shown, for supporting a feed pile 1 of sheet stock and for lifting it upwardly in known manner so that the top sheet can be taken off the top at about the same height from the floor level. For example, the stock is supported on an automatic elevating platform or table, not shown. The uppermost individual sheets of the pile are picked up by a suction head 2 of known type, for example a Spies suction head com- :prising lifting suckers 3 which lift the uppermost sheet off the pile by the trailing edge portion thereof and transfer it to drag suckers 4 for advancing the sheet longitudinally in a forwardly direction, toward the left of the sheet of the drawing. The suction head 2 comprises a drop finger 5 which rests on the pile as illustrated in FIG. 1 and is retracted to a raised position illustrated, for example in FIG. 4, in order to permit a top or uppermost sheet 6 to be picked up by the lifting suckers 3. When the sheet 6 has been picked up the drop-finger is returned to its rest position in FIG. 4. The finger is constructed to deliver an air blast underneath the sheet 6 thereby to separate the top sheet from the pile.

v The air is provided from a source of compressed air, not shown, in known manner. The sheet 6 is advanced by the suckers 4 forwardly into a position against -a plurality of aligned stops 7 for alignment thereof. It will be understood that a pile stop 16 illustrated in a vertical position in FIG. 3 is moved to a downward position to allow passage of the individual sheets as illustrated in FTGS. 1 and 4 as soon as the movement of the drag suckers 4 is initiated.

The leading edge of the sheet 6 is supported against the alignment stops 7 which are arranged on the outer periphery of driven rotary members comprising rotating suction rings or wheels 9 and are held on the stops hereinafter described. The rotary members or rings 9 are driven in a counter-clockwise direction so that the individual stops thereof 7 are aligned as groups of aligned stops as illustrated for example in FIG. 2. The sheets are held in the aligned position while the rings 9 rotate in a counterclockwise direction and are taken therefrom by sheet delivery means comprising a plurality of grippers 10 each on a respective run of chain of a driven chain delivery 11 and connected thereto by an underside portion 12. The grippers grip the leading edge of the sheets and advance the sheets forwardly over an inclined feed table 13. The feed table 13 is provided with two parallel, longitudinal grooves or slits through which the grippers 10 are able to project up sufliciently to grip the sheets and advance them over the table. The sheets are conveyed to front lays r guides 17, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, from which the sheets are then delivered successively and individually into the processing machine whether it be a paper processing machine or a printing press by transfer apparatus, not shown, for example a transfer device on the machine itself.

The rings or wheels 9 are mounted axially spaced on a rotatably driven shaft 15. The stops 7 are disposed peripherally of the rings 9 extending outwardly thereof. The rings are of a dimension such that when the stops reach a given angular position, illustrated in FIG. 3, the leading edge of each sheet aligned by the stops is in position to be gripped by grippers 10. The angular spaced stops are so disposed that as the rings are rotatably driven corresponding stops at corresponding angular positions of their respective rings are aligned as a group of stops serving as abutments for the leading edge of the sheets delivered thereto by the suckers 4. It will be understood that as the leading edge of a given sheet abuts against a respective group of stops the sheet is preliminarily aligned While the stops are being driven. As the stops continue their travel the sheets are releasably held in an aligned condition, as later described, and then transferred to the grippers 10. It is to be understood that the rings 8 are disposed spaced to engage substantially the leading edge completely across the width of the sheet. The outermost rings are spaced outwardly of the slits in the feed boards 13.

In order to insure the alignment function takes place rapidly and positively, a plurality of controlled guide fingers 8 lift the trailing portion of the individual sheets as hereinafter described. The guide fingers 8 comprise coaxial, arcuate or hook-shaped fingers disposed axially spaced on a common shaft or axis 14. The fingers are spaced so that they extend over the width of the individual sheets and are reciprocated jointly by rocking the shaft 14. The shaft 14 is rocked by means of a control cam which is mounted on a pivotal shaft 20. The cam cooperates with a cam follower on a rockable lever 21 having an arm 22 for actuating a connecting rod 23 that actuates an actuating lever 24 for oscillating the shaft 14 and connected thereto.

The cam 19 has a camming profile effectively displacing the guide fingers toward the feed pile 1 during the time that the uppermost sheet is being picked up. The fingers are disposed in a clockwise direction to a maximum extent until each of their hornlike ends protrude a considerable distance beyond the leading or left hand edge of the feed pile 1. When the movement of the sheet 6 is initiated by the drag suckers 4 in a direction for placing it against the stops 7 the guide fingers are reciprocated counter-clockwise and at a speed substantially that at which the sheet is being advanced. When the grippers 1t grip the leading edge of the individual sheets the guide fingers have moved in a clockwise direction so that the end thereof is slightly below the edge of the feed table 13 and are then advanced forwardly to lift the trailing edge portion of the next successive sheets, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. This operation is cyclically carried out in timed relationship with the advancement of the successive sheets and the gripping thereof by the grippers 10.

The guide fingers are configured in such a manner that as they are moved toward the feed pile their upper surfaces lift the sheets and substantially form an extension of the feed board supporting the underside of the sheets so that the grippers positively grip and positively hold the sheets. Thus the fingers assist the grippers in holding heavy stock. Moreover, as the fingers move toward the feed pile the trailing portion of thin stock which would tend to drape downwardly is lifted clear of the pile to permit the next successive sheet to be picked up and advance for pro-alignment while the upper sheet overlaps the lower sheet being aligned as illustrated in FIG. 4.

In order to insure that the sheets are releasably held in a fixed pre-aligned position until the grippers 10 grip them and then are easily and positively released the rings 9 are provided with a plurality of openings or holes 18 substantially contiguous to the base of the individual stops 7 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4. The rings 9 are constructed in an air-tight manner so that a negative pressure can be developed therein by a vacuum suction applied thereto by vacuum applying means, not shown, usually found on printing presses and paper processing machines of the type with which the device is used.

The application of a vacuum suction or negative pressure to each of the individual rings is controlled by a respective control cam 25 mounted on the shaft 20 which controls the actuation of a rockable lever 26 for opening and closing a respective vacuum suction to vacuum chambers in the individual ring members 9. For example, a chamber 28 is in communication with a passageway to the valve 27 and is in communication with the openings 18. The individual control cams, for example the control cam 25 illustrated, have a profile for controlling the application of a vacuum suction during the duration of the alignment function and up to the time that the sheets are gripped by the grippers 10 and then the vacuum is broken and the individual sheets released.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be understood that many modifications and changes can be made within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A sheet feed device for delivering sheets individually and sequentially from a feed pile to a printing press or paper or paper processing machine comprising, in combination, pre-alignment means to pre-align the sheets individually and successively before delivering to said printing press or machine, said pre-alignment means comprising a plurality of rotary stops driven continuously during operation, said stops being disposed angularly spaced relative to each other in respective aligned groups for travel along a given path, delivery means to take sheets individually and successively from said feed pile and deliver each sheet with a respective leading edge against a corresponding alignedgroup of said stops, means to automatically take the pre-aligned sheets successively from said corresponding group of stops for delivery to said paper processing machine or printing press, means for driving said stops in timed relationship with said delivery means to cause corresponding angularly spaced stops to be aligned axially and function as groups of aligned pre-alignment stops, and means contiguous each stop for holding the individual sheets with the leading edge portion releasably fixed against a respective group of stops in an aligned condition.

2. A sheet feed device for delivering sheets individually and sequentially from a feed pile to a printing press or paper processing machine comprising, in combination, pre' alignment means to pre-align the sheets individually and successively before delivery to said printing press or machine, said pre-alignment means comprising a plurality of rotary stops driven continuously during operation, said stops being disposed angularly spaced relative to each other as axially aligned groups for rotary travel along substantially circular paths for each group, delivery means to take sheets individually and successively from said feed pile and deliver each sheet with a respective leading edge against a corresponding aligned group of said prealignment stops, means to automatically take the prealigned sheets successively from said corresponding group of stops for delivery to said paper processing machine or printing press, means for driving said stops in timed relationship With said delivery means to cause corresponding angularly spaced stops to be aligned axially and function as groups of aligned pro-alignment stops, means contiguous each stop for holding the individual sheets With the leading edge portion releasably held against said respective group in an aligned condition comprising means to selectively apply a vacuum suction adjacent to said stops during rotary travel to hold said sheets in said prealigned condition and to interrupt said suction at respective groups of aligned stops When said means for taking said sheets from a respective group of stops takes a respective sheet from a given group of stops pre-aligning the sheet.

3. A sheet feed device according to claim 2, including means to lift the trailing portion of the individual sheets when gripped by said means to automatically take the aligned sheets from a corresponding group of stops to ensure that a next successive sheet can be moved into a position of alignment and disposed underlying the sheet gripped by the last-mentioned means.

4. A sheet feed device according to claim 3, in which said means to lift the trailing portion of the individual sheets comprises a plurality of coaxial arcuate fingers, and means for reciprocably rocking said fingers in timed relationship with delivery of said sheets to said stops in a direction opposite to travel of said sheets to a position underlying the trailing portion of said sheeet and in a direction of travel of said sheet while lifting the trailing portion of each sheet.

5. A sheet feed device for delivering sheets individually and sequentially from a feed pile to a printing press or paper processing machine comprising, in combination, pre-alignment means to pre-align the sheets individually and successively before delivering to said printing press or machine, said pro-alignment means comprising a plurality of rotary members driven continuously during operation each having pro-alignment stops angularly spaced relative to each other and peripherally thereon as axially aligned groups for rotary travel along substantially circular paths for each group delivery means to take sheets individually and successively from said feed pile and deliver each sheet With a respective leading edge against a corresponding aligned group of said pre-alignment stops, (it) means to automatically take the pre-aligned sheets successively from said corresponding group of stops of said rotary members for delivery to said paper processing machine or printing press, means for driving said rotary members in timed relationship with said delivery means to cause corresponding angularly spaced stops to be aligned axially and function as groups of aligned prealignment stops, said rotary driven members each having at least one opening contiguous each stop for applying a vacuum holding the individual sheets with the leading edge portion releasably fixed against said rotary means in an aligned condition, means to selectively apply a suction to said opening during rotary travel of said rotary members to hold said sheets in said pre-aligned condition and to interrupt said suction at respective groups of aligned stops when said means for taking said sheets from a respective group of stops takes a respective sheet from a given group of stops pre-aligning the sheet.

6. A sheet feed device for delivering sheets individually and sequentially from a feed pile to a printing press or paper processing machine comprising, in combination, pre-alignment means to pre-align the sheets individually and successively before delivering to said printing press or machine, said pre-alignment means comprising a plurality of rotary rings driven continuously during operation each having pre-alignment stops angularly spaced relative to each other and peripherally thereon and extending out- Wardly thereof as axially aligned groups for rotary travel along substantially circular paths for each group, delivery means to take sheets individually and successively from said feed pile and deliver each sheet With a respective leading edge against a corresponding aligned group of said pre-alignment stops, means to automatically take the pre-aligned sheets successively from said corresponding group of aligned stops of said rotary rings for delivery to said paper processing machine or printing press, means for driving said rotary rings in timed relationship with said delivery means to cause corresponding angularly spaced stops to be aligned axially and function as said groups of aligned pre-alignrnent stops, said rotary rings each having openings contiguous each stop for holding the individual sheets with the leading edge portion releasably fixed against said rotary means in an aligned condition, means to selectively apply a vacuum suction to said openings during rotary travel of said rotary rings to hold said sheets in said pre-aligned condition and to interrupt said suction at respective groups of aligned stops When said means for taking said sheets from a respective group of stops takes a respective sheet from a given group of stops pre-aligning the sheets.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,227,370 12/40 Seybold 271-12 2,495,261 1/50 Iirousek 27150 X 2,642,283 6/53 Albrecht 27 1--5 3 2,698,175 12/54 RoWel 27150 2,756,049 7/ 5 6 Stolz 27112 2,944,812 7/60 Winkler et al 27 15 8 X FOREIGN PATENTS 688,543 3/53 Great Britain.

M. HENSON WOOD, 111., Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL M. LUPO, ROBERT B. REEVES,

Examiners. 

1. A SHEET FEED DEVICE FOR DELIVERING SHEETS INDIVIDUALLY AND SEQUENTIALLY FROM A FEED PILE TO A PRINTING PRESS OR PAPER OR PAPER PROCESSING MACHINE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, PRE-ALIGNMENT MEANS TO PRE-ALIGN THE SHEETS INDIVIDIUALLY AND SUCCESSIVELY BEFORE DELIVERING TO SAID PRINTING PRESS OR MACHINE, SAID PRE-ALIGNMENT MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF ROTARY STOPS DRIVEN CONTINUOUSLY DURING OPERATION, SAID STOPS BEING DISPOSED ANGULARLY SPACED RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER IN RESPECTIVE ALIGNED GROUPS FOR TRAVEL ALONGA GIVEN PATH, DELIVERY MEANS TO TAKE SHEETS INDIVIDUALLY AND SUCCESSIVELY FROM SAID FEED PILE AND DELIVERY EACH SHEET WITH A RESPECTIVE LEADING EDGE AGAINST A CORRESPONDING ALIGNED GROUP OF SAID STOPS, MEANS TO AUTOMATICALLY TAKE THE PRE-ALIGNED SHEETS SUCCESSIVELY FROM SAID CORRESPONDING GROUP OF STOPS FOR DELIVERY TO SAID PAPER PROCESSING MACHINE FOR PRINTING PRESS, MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID STOPS IN TIMED RELATIONSHIP WITH SAID DELIVERY MEANS TO CAUSE CORRESPONDING ANGULARY SPACED STOPS TO BE ALIGNED AXIALLY AND FUNCTION AS GROUPS OF ALIGNED PRE-ALIGNMENT STOPS, AND MEANS CONTIGUOUS EACH STOP FOR HOLDING THE INDIVIDUAL SHEETS WITH THE LEADING EDGE PORTION RELEASABLY FIXED AGINST A RESPECTIVE GROUP OF STOPS IN AN ALIGNED CONDITION. 